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Sri Lanka A 244 and 308 (Jayawardene 76, Nawaz 92; Patel 4-70, Powar 4-60) drew with India A 369 (Gavaskar 60, Kaif 53, Badani 50, Herath 6-89) and 102 for 5 (Kaif 50*; Malinga 3-43)
Sri Lanka A had the better of the final day as the first of the three four-day Tests against India A ended in a draw at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad. Set 184 to win from 31 overs, India A slumped to 47 for 4, before Mohammad Kaif and Ajay Ratra shut the door on any chances of an upset. Kaif made an unbeaten 50 to thwart the Sri Lankans, who had earlier extended their second innings to 308, after resuming at 192 for 4.India A’s bid for the runs never got going, and Shiv Sundar Das – leading the side – was the first to go, skying a catch to Naveed Nawaz at mid-on off the bowling of Tharanga Lakshita. Hemang Badani followed him back to the pavilion, for a first-ball duck as the nerves started to show. Lasith Malinga picked up the wickets of Gautam Gambhir, Sridharan Sriram and Rohan Gavaskar, but time – and Kaif – prevented any realistic bid for victory.Earlier, Nawaz missed out on a century, caught by Gambhir off the bowling of Romesh Powar for 92. But Anushka Polonowita – who made 41 – and Omesh Wijesiriwardene (19), frustrated the Indians no end as the day wore on.Munaf Patel, who like Powar finished with four wickets, was even warned by umpire Devendra Sharma after a throw to the keeper’s end bounced and struck Wijesiriwardene on the helmet. It was that sort of day for India A, who dominated the match for three days, only to lose their way in the final stages.

Gujarat edge out AndhraThe Andhra challenge, which had been resuscitated by a dramatic ninth wicket partnership between RVC Prasad and Hemal Watekar, fizzled out after the two men departed early on the fifth morning. Their dismissals secured Gujarat the all-important first innings lead and a berth in the Ranji quarter-finals where they will meet Bengal.The remainder of the day’s play at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad still had its exciting moments. A patient unbeaten 75 from opener Narender Modi was what saved Gujarat the blushes of being dismissed for a paltry score in the second innings; the home team reaching 174 for eight when play was called off.Railways ease into quarter-finalsRailways, who had secured a massive first innings lead over Delhi, settled for batting practice on the final day at the Karnail Singh Stadium, Delhi. A hundred from Yere Goud and hundreds from JP Yadav and TP Singh saw their team post 314 for four in the second innings when play was called off. Railways will now clash with Tamil Nadu in the Ranji quarterfinals which will again be played at Delhi.Yadav made 80, Singh 64 and Goud, an unbeaten 101, as Railways put the Delhi bowlers through the wringer. Goud, the backbone of the Railways batting, brought up his ton in good time, his 162-ball knock being studded with 15 rasping hits to the fence.The rest of Ranji quarter-final draw reads as follows: Baroda take on Hyderabad at Baroda while Punjab await the winners of Orissa-Uttar Pradesh clash.

With an utterly charming Neil McKenzie century as the cornerstone, South Africa produced their best one-day performance of the summer to crush Sri Lanka by 95 runs in the second game of the Standard Bank Series at Buffalo Park on Sunday.The home team were superior in every respect as they amassed 302 for seven and then broke through quickly as Sri Lanka replied. In the end the tourists were held to 207 for six and the South African victory gives Shaun Pollock’s side a commanding 2-0 lead in the six-match series.On Friday night in Port Elizabeth the Sri Lankans had been competitive while losing by four wickets, but on Sunday they scarcely challenged the South Africans. As Sanath Jayasuriya noted, they gave themselves a useful start by taking two South African wickets quickly, but then lost the plot, dropping three catches as South Africa piled it on.The most expensive miss came off McKenzie who had 35 when he swept Muttiah Muralitharan around the corner to Upul Chandana at square leg. It was not a particularly easy chance, going at shin height, but it went in and it went out. McKenzie stormed on to make an unbeaten 120 and make it a matching pair with his maiden Test 120 in Port Elizabeth two weeks ago.McKenzie and Boeta Dippenaar have been rotated in the South African middle order, but it is difficult to see how or why McKenzie should have to wait his turn when the one-day series resumes in the New Year after the second Test match.It is an odd itinerary, as Jayasuriya pointed out, but it was arranged by the boards of the two countries to allow the Sri Lankans to trundle off elsewhere at the end of January. The players simply have to deal with it.And to be fair to the South Africans, they’ve hopped back and forth between one-day and Test cricket over the past few weeks, not that you’d notice it on the evidence of Sunday’s display.Quite apart from McKenzie there were terrific contributions from Jonty Rhodes, who scuttled to a 50-ball 50 and added 88 for the fourth wicket with McKenzie, and Mark Boucher, who carved out 55 off 48 balls as 100 was added in 14 overs for the fifth wicket.All of this left Sri Lanka with a bit of a hill to climb, an ascent that grew rapidly steeper as Shaun Pollock nipped out the opening pair. Romesh Kaluwitharana didn’t look entirely happy with his LBW decision and Jayasuriya dragged Pollock on for the second game running.Sri Lanka were two down inside five overs and they never quite got back into the match. Marvan Atapattu made 36 and Mahela Jayawardene hung around for his 59, but the substantial contributions were not forthcoming and by the time the sixth wicket fell at 147 with just on 16 overs remaining, the match had, to all intents and purposes, been won and lost.Jayasuriya conceded afterwards that if Sri Lanka are to compete in this series, the Sri Lankan top order has to fire. So far it hasn’t and all too quickly the South Africans have been able to smother the tourists in the field. The Sri Lankan skipper also felt that the fielding effort had been the worst by his team in, well, a long time.As for Pollock, he was pleased with his decision to bat first. "I only made up my mind when I went out to toss and the sun came out," he said. "It turned out to be a good decision."Indeed it did as the bounce evident in the pitch during the morning disappeared after lunch, as Chandana will testify. He was trapped leg before by Lance Klusener by one that struck him about boot height. For the Sri Lankans it was that sort of day.

An update has emerged regarding Newcastle United transfer target Marcus Rashford… 

What’s the talk?

According to 90min, the England international is questioning his future at Old Trafford and may look to pursue an exit from the club at the end of the season. He is said to be frustrated with his game-time under Ralf Rangnick and is set for talks over his role in the team moving forward.

The report claims that the Magpies, along with Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and West Ham, are keeping tabs on his situation in the event that he does become available in the next transfer window.

Meanwhile, reports from Spain have claimed that the Red Devils want a fee of at least €100m (£83m) in order to part ways with the winger.

Lift the roof off

PIF can lift the roof off St James’ Park by striking a mega deal to sign the Englishman from Manchester United ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

Newcastle demonstrated their ambition in the January transfer window as they swooped to sign Kieran Trippier from Champions League outfit Atletico Madrid. A player featuring in Europe’s premier competition and representing the champions of Spain opted to come and join a relegation battle with the Magpies, which sent out a statement on the club’s direction.

However, the prospective signing of Rashford would take it to the next level. Whilst Trippier is in his 30s and may have seen this move as his last career adventure, the Old Trafford forward is just 24 and has the majority of his career ahead of him to develop even further as a player.

In 293 games for the Red Devils, he has scored 93 goals and provided 58 assists. Last season, he was directly involved in 22 goals in 37 Premier League games, which shows that he has the quality to be a regular contributor in the final third, whilst United reporter Rich Fay dubbed him a “joy to watch”.

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Rashford’s best campaign for goals and assists came in the 2019/20 season, when he scored 17 times and provided nine assists in just 31 league outings. These statistics offer a glimpse into the level of player that PIF would be bringing to Newcastle, and he still has plenty to offer at his young age.

Along with the reported £83m transfer fee, this is why he would be a huge statement signing and one which would have the fans at St James’ Park rocking with excitement, potentially blowing the roof off in the process. Eddie Howe would surely be delighted to have a player of Rashford’s proven quality and potential in his squad, so now it is down to PIF to get this deal over the line…

AND in other news, Forget Trippier: Ashworth can seal instant Newcastle masterclass with “promising” £17m gem…

Chris Gayle: ‘I cannot stress enough that we must not take Zimbabwe for granted’ © Imran Khan

It’s an honour to captain the West Indies cricket team anytime I’m asked, and therefore, when invited to do so for the upcoming tour to Zimbabwe, I readily agreed to serve in that capacity.I have always stood up to and enjoyed challenges and I think this series will be a great opportunity for me to continue in that vein and I will definitely try to make the best of it for the team’s benefit. It will be important to motivate the players, to ensure we play to our potential and deliver the maximum output in every match, starting with the first one-day international versus Zimbabwe tomorrow (Friday).I’m well aware that leading West Indies to victory over England in the one-day international series in England last summer would certainly have influenced the selectors’ decision to appoint me as captain for this assignment. It’s a position I don’t take lightly at all but, at the same time, I know that I need to maintain a calm frame of mind and not put too much pressure on myself. Overall, I am confident that I am capable of getting the job done and of handling the increased responsibility, particularly regarding on-field tactics.Captaincy of an international cricket team, especially one that’s endured mixed results in recent years as we have, is the kind of test that builds character. I expect that this experience will give me a lot more courage and even greater belief in myself and will be a positive step in my continued development – both on and off the cricket field.I’m quietly looking forward to this encounter and optimistic about the team’s fortunes as well as my own.Returning to Zimbabwe – I left Jamaica on Saturday while most of the touring party flew from the Caribbean on Sunday – is special for me and evokes several fond memories of past success and celebrations. It was the scene of my maiden Test century in July 2001 (175 at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo) and some good one-day knocks too.Naturally, I would love to pick up the rich batting form which I have enjoyed over here on previous tours. However, personal exploits – while very important – will be secondary to team goals. I cannot stress enough that we must not take Zimbabwe for granted. They can beat the best of teams on their day and the last thing we need is to fall victim to a bad case of complacency against a talented unit which has nothing to lose in front of their home crowd.We in the West Indies have the ammunition – including batting newcomer Brenton Parchment who has been in the reckoning for regional selection for a while – to defeat this opposition. Now, we just have to execute our plans and take our chances in batting, bowling and fielding.And I will be aiming to lead by example.

ScorecardHalf centuries by Neal Parlane and Matthew Bell helped Wellington beat Northern Districts by 43 runs in a high-scorer at the Basin Reserve. The home side piled up an imposing 291, batting the opposition out of the game as Northern Districts managed 248.Parlane and Bell added 147 for the second wicket after captain Michael Parlane decided to bat first. Both fell short of their respective tons but laid the platform for a big score. The middle order, led by Jesse Ryder, chipped in with valuable cameos to lift the total to 291.Peter McGlashan led chase with a half century but once he was dismissed, half the side was back in the pavilion with only 138 on board. Ian Butler scored a fluent 47 off just 37 balls but it wasn’t enough as Northern Districts were bowled out in the 50th over. Seamer Grant Elliott was the most effective bowler, taking three wickets.

Umar Gul, the fast bowler, celebrated his recall to the Pakistan A line-up for next month’s tour opener against the Indians with a five-wicket haul for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) against Pakistan Customs on the opening day of their Group A fourth-round Patron’s Trophy Cricket Championship match at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex Ground No.1 at Karachi.Umar’s figures of 5 for 64 in 19 overs had Customs bowled out for a modest 199. By the close of play, PIA had reached 46 for 2 after having lost Yasir Hameed and Agha Sabir rather cheaply. Customs were well served by a 130-run fourth-wicket partnership between Kashif Siddiq and Fawad Alam, both left-handers, but the last seven wickets crashed for the addition of a mere 38 after the score at one stage had been an impressive 161 for 3. Fawad, 20, top-scored with a mature 79, made off 114 balls in a little over two hours at the wicket, while Kashif’s 58 came off 126 with six hits to the ropes.Umar was ably supported by Tahir Khan, whose offspinners captured him 4 for 65 in 19.2 overs as three Customs batsmen failed to get off the mark. Both Customs and PIA have played two matches each in the five-team Group A, with six points each to their credit. They are aiming to be in the top two that will qualify for the tournament’s Quadrangular Stage round.Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) did their chances of averting relegation to next season’s Grade-II circuit no good when they spent the entire opening day of their fourth-round Patron’s Trophy match against Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex in Karachi struggling to get a poor total of 195 for 8.The new-ball pair of Sajid Ali and Asad Ali plucked five of these wickets as KRL, after having been put in first, had half their side back in the pavilion with only 108 on the board. Saeed Anwar Junior, the left-handed opener, and Mohammad Wasim, who has earned a call-up to the Pakistan A team for the opening warm-up game against the Indians, perished at the same score of 19. The third wicket fell at 31.Mohtashim Ali and Usman Saeed, both youngsters, then retrieved the situation with a 67-run fourth-wicket stand. Mohtashim, 24, made 32 with two fours off 90 balls while Usman, 19, top-scored with 34 off 90 deliveries with two hits to the ropes.The later batsmen all got runs but did not last long. Azhar Ali, the allrounder, was unbeaten on 31 in a patient display having negotiated 111 balls with a solitary boundary.With him is Saeed Ajmal, the offspinner, with an unbeaten 18 in just short of an hours’ batting. The unbroken ninth-wicket stand has so far produced 32 invaluable runs. Sajid Ali, Lahore’s left-arm fast-medium, finished the day with figures of 3 for 33 in his first match of the season. Mohammad Salman, the SNGPL wicketkeeper, held four catches in the innings.KRL have already lost their first three matches in the tournament and are placed at rock bottom in the five-team points table. Another loss here will definitely get them demoted to the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II competition next season. After two matches, SNGPL are currently at second place behind Habib Bank, with a total of nine points. The two top teams from the two groups qualify for the Quadrangular Stage round that gets underway from January 15.In a truncated opening day’s play, Service Industries scored 174 for 6 in their fourth-round Patron’s Trophy match against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the Sheikhupura Stadium.Of the 83 overs to be bowled during a day’s play, 68 were actually sent down yesterday after Naved Ashraf put Service Industries in first. The first five wickets fell with only 72 on the board, of which Shaiman Anwar scored 33 off 62 balls with six boundaries.Khurram Shahzad and Mustansar Ali, the middle-order batsmen, then got involved in an invaluable sixth-wicket partnership of 102. While Khurram was dismissed shortly before the match was called off, for 48 off 131 balls in almost three hours with four fours, Mustansar remained unbeaten on 55 with six fours and a six in a little over two and half hours’ batting. For ZTBL, Tanvir Ahmed, the opening bowler, took 2 for 41 while Bilal Asad’s medium fast bowling earned him figures of 3 for 25 from 15 overs.ZTBL, four-time champions of the competition, have collected no points in the ongoing tournament. Service Industries had qualified for the first-class tournament after winning the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II title last season. They appear to be going towards demotion again.Only 7.3 overs of play was possible due to bad weather and poor light on the opening day of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP)’s Group B fourth-round Patron’s Trophy match against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), here at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground.In the 45 deliveries bowled in the day, WAPDA, who had been asked to bat first, managed just 14 runs. Adil Nisar, the captain, and Ahmed Said, the wicketkeeper, remained unbeaten on 7 and 3 respectively. While WAPDA have been strengthened by the inclusion of Mohammad Yousuf and Mushtaq Ahmed, both players with national experience, the NBP line-up has in its midst Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Yasir Arafat and Mohammad Sami, all national representatives.Sami bowled 3.3 overs yesterday and, although he sent down no maidens, he conceded just four. Wasim Khan, his bowling partner, had figures of 0 for 6 off four overs. WAPDA, who were the tournament runners-up in 2003-04, are at second place in the five-team Group B table with 12 points from two matches. NBP have been Patron’s Trophy champions on five occasions and are the third spot with a tally of nine points.

Jamie Cox earns a recall for Tasmania’s ING Cup final squad© Getty Images

The experience of Jamie Cox, the former captain, has won him a surprise place in Tasmania’s squad for the ING Cup final against Queensland at the Gabba on Sunday. Tasmania, whose only domestic trophy is the 1978-79 Gillette Cup, have named Cox as 13th man in a bid to settle the side’s nerves.Cox played the last of his 75 one-day games for Tasmania in 2003, but has been in excellent form in the 2nd XI Cricket Australia Cup, including scoring 162 in the current match against Western Australia. "He will bring invaluable leadership and experience to the dressing-room and support for the younger less experienced players," a Tasmania Cricket spokesman said. Cox, who averaged 46 in the County Championship for Somerset last winter, is the only change to the side that lost to South Australia last Sunday.Queensland’s disrupted run into the ING Cup final did not stabilise with the naming of their 12-man squad on Tuesday. The Bulls, who were thrashed in their past two matches, decided against risking the injured Martin Love and Shane Watson while Lachlan Stevens remained under a cloud with a calf problem.Love is still recovering from split hand webbing and Watson was ruled out of Australia’s one-day squad with a side strain, which pushed James Hopes into the New Zealand tour party. Michael Kasprowicz and Hopes will both be missing from the side that lost by 57 runs to Western Australia on Friday, and the batsmen Aaron Nye and Daniel Payne have come into the squad.Nye has played five games this season while Payne was 12th man against Tasmania in December. Stevens, the allrounder, collected 0 for 14 and 8 on his Queensland debut against the Warriors, and is not expected to train with the team until tomorrow.Queensland Jimmy Maher (capt), Lachlan Stevens, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Aaron Nye, Brendan Nash, Wade Seccombe (wk), Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, Daniel Payne.Tasmania Daniel Marsh (capt), Michael Di Venuto, George Bailey, Michael Bevan, Travis Birt, Luke Butterworth, Jamie Cox, Michael Dighton (wk), Xavier Doherty, Brett Geeves, Adam Griffith, Scott Kremerskothen, Damien Wright.

Shane Warne, who was banned for 12 months last February for testing positive to an illegal diuretic, wants to be back in the Australian Test team for their upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka. It has just been announced that Australia will tour the subcontinent in February and March where they will play five one-day internationals and three Tests.Warne recently attended the Wisden Electrolux awards evening in Bombay where he was given an award for the best Test-bowling performance of the year. At the function, he admitted going through a “tough time for six to seven months”, but hopes to “come back in February.”A return in February 2004 was the only option for Warne as he refused to let the ban end his career, claiming that “it’ll actually help me in the long run”. He also added, “I think I’ve got two or three years left in the game and the enforced layoff is probably going to help me add another one at the end of my career”.During the winter, Warne started to train with his state side, Victoria, to maintain his form and fitness but was banned from even doing that after the Australian Sports Commission advised Cricket Australia that the anti-doping policy included national, state and district training. This was a major blow for Warne as the Australian selectors had asked him to join their sessions too.Warne’s recent award, for his excellent performances in Pakistan in October 2002 shows that he won’t be kept down for much longer. He has already served close to nine months of his 12-month ban and if he makes the Sri Lankan tour he will attempt to become the second bowler ever to take 500 Test wickets.

Wellington’s second loss of the weekend to Central Districts ushered Canterbury through a wide open door to win the right to meet Auckland in the final of the women’s State League next weekend.Wellington batted first and after plummeting to 21 for five wickets, had Maia Lewis to thank for dragging it through to 143 before the side was all out in the 50th over.Lewis was eventually run out for 42 but in the process she added 56 with Anna Corbin (32) and 30 with Amanda Cooper.Aimee Mason bowled from the outset and took three wickets for 12 runs off 10 overs while Kate Pulford backed her up with two for 21 from eight overs.CD took 41.1 overs to hit the winning runs. Nicole Thessman scored 46 not out off 79 balls while Pulford scored 26 and Mason scored 34 off 45 balls.Canterbury assured themselves of a place in the final when dismissing Otago for 81 in 34.2 overs in Oamaru. Extras of 21 were the top score for Otago while Rachel Pullar scored 16.Helen Daly took three for 14 off 10 overs while Rebecca Steele took three for 10 off six.Canterbury raced to an eight-wicket victory, and the bonus point as they scored the runs required off 20.2 overs.Nicola Payne scored 26 and Haidee Tiffen 25 off 27 balls. Pullar provided something of a test for the batsmen in 10 overs of fire and brimstone as she took two for 23 from her 10 overs.Auckland warmed up for the final by taking a 10-wicket win out of Northern Districts. ND scored 107 with Victoria Brown scoring 22 and Anna Wilkins 13. However, there was one concern for Auckland, they bowled 26 wides.Paula Gruber took four for 15 from 9.2 overs while Natalie Scripps took two for 23 off 10 overs.Auckland raced to victory in 15.5 overs. Rebecca Rolls, thankful for missed catches when on 0 and five, scored 58 off 46 balls while Michelle Lynch hit 36 off 50 balls.